High speed printer



Feb. 17, 1959 R. c. STIEFEL HIGH SPEED PRINTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filer; June 16, 1955 CUA/TEE PA pE/Q Aam/VCE Moro/2 `Gttorneg Feb. 17,1959

Filed June 16, 1955 R. C. STIEFEL HIGH SPEED PRINTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H n n 40 [i] /5 f5 50 Cow/f5@ ,eu- G R.

(Ittcrneg Feb. 17, 1959 R. C. STIEFEL 2,873,666

` HIGH SPEED PRINTER Filed June 16, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ADI/ANCE 01?/ VER Gttorneg Unird, Safes Patent 2,813,666 HIGH SPEED PRINTER Woodside, N. Y., assignor to Sperry Rand Rudy essere.,

a corporation of Delaware Corporation, Appiication June 16, 1955, Serial No. 515,900 9 claims. (ci. iol- 93) vmation recorded 'on a magnetic,=perforated or photog graphic tape.

In the procedure of known -printers of the general class described, although computations are made at the rate of many thousand operations per second, the'highest speed with, which the printer'can display-and/or record that information is limited to a much lesser rate. In these known printers, the rbasic operation consists in bringing one selected type from a'pool of different available ytypes to a given yspot Aon the record sheet andthen returning it rapidly. The rate at whichthis operation can be performed determines the rate at whichfthe character can be typed. In such an opration, high acceleration of certain partsare required and the rate at which selection and typing is attained is limited by such acceleration.

Qne object of the present invention is to provide a printer which is designed to reduce acceleration and deceleration and momentum of parts to aminimum and which therefore is capable of very high rates of operation. In accordance with certain features of the present invention, a stationary printing head is provided having a plurality of character type carriers desirably in the form kof plungers carrying at one en d'the respective types. The sheet on which the information is to be recorded is moved past the fixed printing head and the printing plungers` are located a very small distance behind said sheet. When the sheet moving at a constant speed or step by vstep at a constant rate is aligned'with type of the selected character, the plunger carrying this type moves the very small distance necessary for printing. In this manner, movement of the comparatively light sheet is utilized to replace the high speed complex motion re- Vquiredvfor other types of printing heads.

Various other objects, features and'advantages of the invention are apparent from the following particular description and from the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of the high speed printer embodying the present invention;

2 is a sectionalview of a fragment of the printing head and of the perspective view of the mechanism for operating said printing head cyclically;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of al column shift gate by which input intelligence may be channelled into proper columns for recording;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a switch element of the column shift gate;`

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view in basic formV of a column unit of a counter register by which pulses corresponding to characters are delayed inv accordance with the order of magnitude of these characters, for selection ang actuation of the printing plungers in proper sequence; an fFig. 6 is a diagram of onerof the units ofthe counter register.

representing the same character. Vof -the invention, the types 20 are arranged inthe form the record sheet 12 transverse thereto. for these characters is on a--carrier and .specifically at..the

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Referring to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, the printer of the present invention comprises a flat stationary printing head 10 supported horizontally in any suitable manner over a at platen 11. Advanced over the platen 11 at a speed synchronized with the rateof typing is avpaper record sheet 12 having register sprocket feed holes 13 along the rsides for high speed feed operation in va well lknown manner. This record sheet 12 may be suppliedI continuously from a feed roll 14 and at its delivery end may be fan-folded by a folding mechanism 15 -and stacked von a tray 16. Between vthe record sheet 12 and the head 10 is acarbon ribbon 17 wound at the ends-on spools Island advanced at vintervals from one spool to the other in time relation to :the typing operation, in a manner well known in the typewriter art.

Thev printing head 10 supports types 20 arranged in the .form -oftwo crossing series. of parallel flines, the lines of -ty-pe infone series beingzduplicates, eachoffthe lines of the latter series bearing typesv representing different characters, each linek in the other series bearing types 'In .thespecifc form ofl parallel columns extending lengthwise valong the direction of movement of therecord sheet `12, eachcharacter appearing'once in each column, .the types 4being arranged in. parallel' rows transverse tothedirection of movement of the record sheet, thek characters ineach-row lbeing duplicates.

-and 9 arranged in sequence, and-twelveof these columns are provided to produce a'line of-twelvecharactersfon Each type lower end of a vertical plunger 21 supported .inahousing f22 and guided therein for verticaltmovement. These printing plungers V21 are normally-pressedinto .inoperative position by springs'23, so that the AupperendsYof these plungers project upwardly beyondA the housing.22. In this inoperative position, the types 20 on the lower Aends of the printing plungers'21 areonly a'fewthousands of an inch from 'the record sheet 12. Fig. v2 -shows the spacing between the record sheet 12 and the types 2t)` on the lower ends of the plungers 21 .in .inoperative positions of said plungers exaggerated for the purpose of clarifying illustration.

For actuating theprinting plungers'21-to impress their characters on the record sheet 12 through thecarbon ribbon 17, there are provided latchV levers 24,.oneV for each plunger. These vlatch levers 24 are. pivotally mounted at 25 intermediate their ends to a frame.26. The upper ends of these latch.levers24 are adapted to serve as armatures to be attracted by respective fastacting magnetic coils 27 whenY energized, while the lower ends are adapted when the upper ends are so attracted,

ment of a latch lever 24 in this inactive position, will be an idle one and will not affect its corresponding plunger 21. However, if a latch lever 24 has been attracted by its corresponding coil 27, so that the lower end of the latch lever 24 will be directly above the upper end of the corresponding plunger 21, upon depressing movement of this latch lever 24, this latch lever will press the plunger 21 downward against the action of its spring 23 and will cause the type 20 at the lower end of said plunger to imprint on the record sheet 12. In Fig. 2, the third latch lever 24 from the left is shown attracted by its coil 27 and in plunger depressing position, while the other latch levers are shownin inactive position.

The frame 26 carrying the latch levers 24 is operated continuously to cause it to move cyclically downward in time relation with the input channel. On downward motion of the frame 26, only the plunger or plungers 21 called for by the input information will type.

As already described, information to be printed may come from any of a wide variety of sources, as for example a digital device, such as the tape or storage tank of a digital computer. At a code converter, the input code is converted into the desired output code (for example, decimal numbers or English). From the code converter, the intelligence flows to a column shift gate 35 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4), where the information is channelled into successive columns. The particular character in each column is selected through the operation of a counter register 36 (Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6). The column shift gate 35 and the counter register 36 per se form no part of the present invention, and may be of any well-known type. The column shift. gate 35 for fast operations would be of the electronic type, such as the so-called switching matrix. However, in Figs. 3 and 4, the column shift gate 35 is shown of mechanical type to simplify explanation of the function and operation of this device. This simplied form of column shift gate 35 comprises a deck of switches 40, the number of these switches corresponding to the number of dierent characters employed in the printer. In the specific form of the invention shown, since the characters range from to 9, the number of switches 40 would be ten, one for each number, arranged upwardly in the sequence of their order, with the bottom switch corresponding to the number 0 and the top switch corresponding to the number 9. Each switch 40 has a movable contact arm 41 and a series of fixed contacts 42, corresponding in number to the number of columns of characters 20 on the printing head 10. In the .specific form shown, since the printing head contains twelve columns of type 20, the number of fixed contacts 42 on each switch 40 would be twelve, arranged in sequence from one to twelve corresponding to the type columns one to twelve on the printer head 10. The input signals are transmitted electrically to the contact arms 41 of the switches 40 by leads 45, to the fixed contacts 42 of the switches, to the leads 46 from said fixed contacts and to the related column units of the counter register 36, as will be described. All of the contact arms 41 of the switches 40 are moved in unison across the contacts 42 at such high speed, that a line of information is analyzed and channelled, before the pulse corresponding to the first character of this line, emerging from the counter register 36 acts on the corresponding printing plunger 21 for typing.

It is assumed in the following description of operation of the column shift gate 35 that a line of information received from a digital computer or other source of intelligence is 273461900242, as shown in Fig. l. Since the characters are received in sequence, the first character of this line received is 2. The pulse from the corresponding signal will be transmitted to the third switch 40 from the bottom, since this switch handles the character "2. Because this character "2 is the first one in the line, the contact arm 41 of the switch 40 handling this character will be in position in contact with the first fixed contact 42 of said switch when the -signal for said character is received, thereby transmlttlng a corresponding pulse to the counter register 36, to be read thereinto and read out therefrom at the proper tlme, as will be described.

Because all duplicate characters on a line must be printed on the record sheet 12 substantially at the same time, while the corresponding transverse linear region of the sheet destined to receive said character is directly below the row of types 20 carrying these characters, the contact arms 41 of the switches 40 make a complete sweep across the fixed contacts 42 and return to their initial fixed contacts 41 before the pulse corresponding to the first character of the next line is received and processed and before the pulse corresponding to the first character of the first line emerging from the counter register 36 has actuated the printing plunger 21 carrying the corresponding character. Considering the specific line of character illustrated to be recorded, the first character u2" of the line is pulsed into the first column unit of the counter register 36, while the contact arm 41 of the switch 40 handling the character 2 is in initial position. All of the contact arms 41 of the switches 40 then move into connection with the second fixed contacts 42 about at the same time the second input pulse, corresponding to the second character of the line, namely the character 7 is delivered to the column shift gate 35. This second pulse is delivered to the eighth switch 40 from the bottom of the deck and since it is discharged through the second contact 42 of said switch, it is read into the second column unit of the counter register 36.

The operations described are continued for the successive characters in the line, as the pulse for each character is received, the pulses for duplicate numbers in the line returning to the same switch 40 for channelling into the proper column units of the counter register 36.

The main purpose of the counter register 36 is to store the information received and to release this information at the proper time to operate the printing plungers 21 in the proper order, so that the correct printing plunger or plungers are released at the time when the corresponding transverse linear region ofthe record sheet 12 has moved underneath these plungers. The counter register 36 for this purpose consists of a storage device, in which the numbers are read in one at a time and read out one at a time, in the order of their value. For example, the numeral 0 is read out first and the numeral 9 is read out last, even though the numeral "0 is read into the counter register 36 before the number 9. This allows the characters to be typed o-n the record sheet 12 as the sheet is moved past the printing head 10, so that as a transverse linear region of the record sheet 12 moves past the field of operation of said printing head 10, it will contain the complete line of characters predetermined for said region.

A suitable counter register 36 for the purpose described consists of a magnetic shift register having a series of magnetic column units 50 corresponding to the different columns of type 2i) on the printing head 10. In the specific form of the invention illustrated, twelve of these column units 50 would be provided, one'for each column of type. Each column unit 50 has lead connections 46 to the fixed switch contacts 42 of corresponding columnar value. .For example, the first column unit Sli has lead connections 46 to the first fixed switch contacts 42 of all the switches 40, except the first switch on the bottom of the deck handling the pulses corresponding to the 0" character, the second column 50 has lead connections 46 to the second fixed switch contacts 42 of all the switches 40 except the bottom switch, etc.

v Each column unit 5f) is made up of rows a, b, c, etc. of magneti-c cores 51, the number of rows being one less than the number of different characters to be typed. In the specific form. of the invention illustrated, since the states, namely a 5 i. number of characters ranging from to 9 is ten, the number of rows of magnetic cores 51 in each column unit 50 is at least nine. The number of magnetic cores 51 from row to row in each column unit 50 of the counter register 36 vary by one core. For example, the first row contains two magnetic cores 51 for storing the pulses corresponding to the number l and for releasing them at the proper period, after the pulse corresponding to the number 0 has ybeen discharged from the bottom Aswitch 4t) handling the number "0 for proper columniation, in case the line of characters to be recorded does contain this number 0. The second row contains three magnetic cores 51 for storing the pulses corresponding to the number 2 and for releasing them at the proper time, after the release of the pulses corresponding to the nurnber 2 and etc. Although the individual column units 50 per lse are well-known, oneof these units is shown in its basic form 1n Pig. 6 and described briefly herein.

A core made yof magnetic material'with a substantially rectangular hysteresisY loop has two stable reproducible i negative saturation state and a positive saturation state. Once magnetized to one of these states by an applied field strengthpulse of positive or negative amplitude, it will remain indefinitely in that state-without application of external power. Use is made of these two states to store a binary number. The magnetic shift register 36 in each row a, b, c etc. of each column unit 50 is made up of a number of these magneti-c cores 51, so interconnected that binary numbers can be stored and unidirectionally transferred from one core to another.

Fig. 6 shows by way of example a row unit of the counter register 36 havingfour cores 51. lEach core 51 has three windings: an input winding 52', an output winding 53 and an advance or shift winding 54, the input winding 52 of the first core being connected to the corresponding xed contact 42 of the switch 40 of the corresponding character value. If for example, the lrow unit of Vthe magnetic shift register shown in Fig. 6 with four cores 51,

corresponds to the character` 3 and this row unit is iny the first column unit S0 of the register, the input winding 52 of the first core 51 of said register ris connected through the leads 46 to the rst contact 42 of the fourth switch 40 from the bottom of the deck.

y yThe advance winding 54 consists` of advance A and ad- Vance B drivers, these -comprising receiver tube type .pentodes normally cut off. When turned on, the advance A driver tube causes a magnetized currentY to flow through v,the serially connected advance windings yof the oddnumbered cores 51., YThis current is in such a Ydirection as ,to drive these odd numbered cores to the negativesatur'ation state. The advance B driver is similarly connected to the even numbered cores. rThe pulses, sent through the advance windings 54 are synchronized in time relation with the pulses fed into the Ainput winding 52 of the first core 5f from the column shift gate 35.

In the description of the operation of the magnetic shift register unit of Fig. 6 which follows, itis assumed that all four cores are in negative saturation state initially. The pulses are delivered into this unitin the form of substantially rectangular wave voltage. At time ffl, the input driver 52 causes the irstcore 51 to change to'positive saturation flux density. At the end of the input driver current pulse, the ux inthe first coreSl changes to the positive saturation state. The second and fourth cores 51 remain in the negative saturation state. At time T2, the advance A driver is pulsed by rectangularwave voltage and the first core 51 is returned to negative saturation ux density. The largeI change in uxin going from negative saturation state. The third core 51l is driven to positive saturation state by the large change in the flux in the second core 51. At time T4, the advance A driver current transfers in effect the input pulse from the third core 51 to the fourth core 51. In this manner, the input pulse initially read into the first core is transferred by the operation described to the fourth core 51 by successive applications of the advance A and advance B current pulses.

The column shift gate 35 and the counter register 36,. may be provided with the necessary amplifiers to makethe input information pulses effective and the circuits of' the counter register may be provided with the necessary network between the output winding of one core 5l and the input winding of the next core, to prevent undesirable feedback. l

y The pulses discharged from the counter register 35 may after amplification be made to energize directly the coilsl 217 of the latch levers 24 by which the printing plungers 2l are actuated or may be rnade to control switches in circuits which energize said coils.

I he pulses which correspond to the character 0 and which are discharged from the column shift gate 3S `niined transverse linear section of the sheet, while said vtransverse lsection is in position underneath the row of printing plungers bearing said duplicate characters. However, if desired, the pulses corresponding to the character ."0 maylberead into units of the counter register 36 having two magnetic lcores or more to afford a delay before saidpulses act upon the corresponding printing plungers 2l. n Vthatcase, the other units of the counter register 36`handling the pulses for thecharacters` l to 9 will have the number of their magnetic cores correspondingly increased.

Asa predetermined transverse linear section of the `record sheet`12 reaches a position underneath the first row of printing plungers Zlbearing the character 0,

'thefplungersrin said row actuated bythe pulses which correspond to said character and which have been processed through the column shift gate 3S in the manner described, imprint this character on said transverse sheet section in thekcolumn where thischaracter appears in the line of information received. These pulses corresponding tohthe character 0 are the first ones of a line of information to go into effect in the printing of said line on the `sheet 12. v c

As the predetermined transverse linear section of the sheet` passes into the next printing position underneath the second row of printing plungers 21 bearing the character fl, the pulses corresponding tokthis character will be read out of the counter register 36 and will operate acter "0 in a line ofV information received, the printing positive to negative saturation state, produces a voltage at the output winding 53 of the first core 51 which forces current through the forward direction `ofthe seriesv rectiier in said output winding into the input winding 52 of the second core 51, magnetizing itto the positive saturation state.A A t time T3, the advance `Bl driver kcurrent is turned on again and the second core Slis retu'riied'to the plunger or plungers 2i correspo-nding to this character fl `will be actuated after the actuation of the printing plunger or plungers corresponding to the charactersfO, and although this character l `follows the characters 2 to 9 in this line of information, the printing plunger or plungers corresponding to this character l will be actuated prior to the actuation ofthe printing plunger or plungers corresponding to the characters 2 to 9. if the line of information to be recorded has more than yone character 1, then all of the printing plungers 21 in the second row bearing the character l and located in the columns corresponding to the positions of the Vcharacter l in the line are operated almost at the samel time, while the transverse section of the record "sheet 12.

to receive the imprint of these characters is directly below the row of plungers 21 bearing this character.

Although the character 2 because of its position in the line to be recorded may have been read into the counter register 36 before the character 1, actually the time required for the column shift gate 35 to make a complete sweep of its fixed contacts 42 is so small that the pulses from the contacts 42 of the column shift gate 35 for each line, in effect, are received at the same time. The character 2 in a line of information, therefore, is read into the counter register 36 almost at the same time as the character 1. Since the pulse corresponding to character 2 has to be shifted through three magnetic cores 51 of the counter register 36 before it is read out, while the pulse corresponding to the character l has to be shifted through two magnetic cores of the counter register before it is read out, the pulse corresponding to the character 2 will be read out of the counter register 36 a short interval after the pulse corresponding to the character 1 has been read out of said counter register. The feed of the record sheet 12 is timed with the intervals at which successive pulses of numbers of consecutive order are read out of the counter register 36, so that a transverse section of the record sheet which at one period is in position directly below the row of printing plungers 21 bearing the character l to receive the imprint or imprints therefrom, will be in position directly below the next row of printing plungers 21 bearing the character "2 during the next period when the pulse corresponding to the character 2 is read out of the counter register 36 and is actuating the corresponding plunger of said next row into printing position upon said transverse section of the record sheet.

The subsequent characters will be read out of the counter register similarly in the sequence of their magnitude or order. Therefore, as the record sheet 12 moves past each row of printing plungers 21, it receives the required imprint or imprints therefrom. By the time a transverse linear section of the record sheet 12 leaves the last row of printing plungers 21, the complete line of information is recorded thereon.

It should be noted that for the specific printing head illustrated, at any one period, a maximum of ten lines of information corresponding to the number of rows of characters on the printing head 10 are being recorded on the record sheet 12. The spacing between lines of information recorded on the sheet 12 is approximately equal to the spacing between rows of character types on the printing head 10.

The paper feed may be continuous and in predetermined time relationship with the rate at which the input information is received. The operation of the printing plungers 21 is so fast and the movements thereof so 'small (amounting to a few thousandths of an inch), that the continuous advancement of the record sheet 12 does not interfere with the printing operation. A slight transverse play in the printing plungers 21 may be provided to aid in printing on the continuous advancing record sheet 12.

If desired, the printing head 10 may be slanted a small degree with respect to the direction of advancement of the record sheet 12, to facilitate printing with a continuously advancing record sheet.

With the arrangement of the present invention, since the printing head 10 is stationary, and the printing plungers 21 requires to be moved only a few thousandths of an inch to print on the record sheet 12, it is seen that the printer can be operated at a very high rate of speed.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to a specific embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited thereto, but is to be construed broadly and restricted solely by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: Y

l. A printer controlled by input signals of intelligence from the output of a high speed digital computer or from a magnetic, perforated or photographic tape, comprising a stationary printing head having a bank of movable type carriers arranged into two cross sets of parallel lines, the types in each line of one set representing duplicate characters, the types in each line of the other set representing different characters, means for moving a record sheet past said printing head opposite said type carriers and automatically in time relation vwith the rate of input of said signals, and means responsive to said input signals for automatically selecting and operating type carriers corresponding to said signals into imprinting position against said sheet 4but at a sequence different from that in which said input signals are received to accommodate for the changes in position of said sheet in relation to said printing head and to record on said sheet characters representing said input signals in predetermined tabular sequence corresponding to their sequence in said intelligence.

2. A printer controlled by input signals of intelligence from the output of a high speed digital computer or from a magnetic, perforated or photographic tape, comprising a stationary printing head having a bank of movable type carriers arranged into parallel columns, the types in each column representing different characters, the types from column to column being arranged in parallel rows, the types in each row representing duplicate characters, means for moving a record sheet past said printing head opposite said type carriers and automatically in the direction of said columns and in time relation with th'e rate of input of said signals, and means responsive to said input signals for automatically selecting and operating type carriers corresponding to said signals into imprinting position against said sheet but at a sequence diiferent from that in which said input signals are received to accommodate for the changes in position of said sheet in relation to said printing head and to record on said sheet characters representing said input signals in predetermined tabular sequence corresponding to their sequence in said intelligence.

3. A printer controlled by input signals, comprising a flat stationary printing head having a Ibank of printing plungers carrying at one end respective types representing characters corresponding to said signals and guided in said printing head for axial movement, said printing plungers being arranged into parallel columns, the types in each column representing different characters, the types from column to column being arranged in parallel rows, the types in each row representing duplicate characters, means for moving a record sheet in the direction of said columns past said printing head opposite the type carrying ends of said plungers and automatically in time relation with the rate of input of said signals, and means responsive to said input signals for automatically selecting printing plungers corresponding to said signals and for operating the selected plungers axially against said sheet but at a sequence different from that in which said input signals are received to accommodate for the changes in position of said sheet in relation to said printing head and to record on said sheet characters representing said input signals in predetermined tabular sequence corresponding to their sequence in said intelligence.

4. A printer controlled by input signals, comprising a flat stationary printing head having a bank of printing plungers carrying at one end respective types representing characters corresponding to said signals and guided in said printing head for axial movement, said printing plungers being arranged into parallel columns, the types in each column representing different characters, the types from column to column being arranged in parallel rows, the types in each row representing duplicate characters, spring means normally urging each of said plungers axially in one direction into inoperative positions, means for feeding a .record sheet in the direcu 9 tion of said columns past said printing head opposite the type carrying ends of said 'plungersand automatically i'n time relation with the rate of input of said signals, the type carrying ends of said plungers being' disposed a Vfew thousands of an inch 'from theV position of feedof the record sheet vin 'the normal inoperative positions of said plungers', and means -responsive'to said input signals for automatically'selecting printing plungers corresponding to said signals and for operatingthe selected plungers from said inoperative positions axially in the opposite direction against the action of said spring means and against said sheet but at a sequence different from that in which said input signals are received to accommodate for the changes in position of said sheet in relation to said printing head and to record on said sheet characters representing said input signals in predetermined tabular sequence corresponding to their sequence in said intelligence.

5. A printer controlled by input signals comprising a printing head having a bank of printing plungers carrying at one end respective typesrepresenting characters corresponding to said signals and guided in sai-d printing head for axial movement, spring means urging said plungers axially into inoperative position, means for feeding a record sheet past said printing head opposite the type carrying ends of said plungers and automatically in time relation with the rate of input of said signals, a printing frame located on the -side of said printing head opposite the path of feed of said record sheet and carrying a series of plunger latches, one for each plunger, means for operating said printing frame in time sequence with the rate of input of said signals to move said plunger latches in unison towards and away from plunger operating position, electromagnetic means for each of said plunger latches adapted when actuated to move the corresponding plunger latch into position to engage the corresponding plunger and to move thereby said plunger into position contra to the action of its spring means and against the record sheet to imprint on said record sheet the character from the type thereon during a predetermined phase of operation of said printing frame, said latches being free of said plungers during said phases, when not actuated lby said electromagnetic means, whereby the free plungers move idly during said phases, and means responsive to said input signals for automatically selecting said electromagnetic means and actuating the selected electromagnetic means corresponding to said signals.

6. A printer controlled by input signals from the output of a high speed digital computer or from a magnetic, perforated or photographic tape, comprising a stationary printing head having a bank of movable type carriers arranged into parallel columns, the types in each column representing different characters, the types from column to column being arranged in parallel rows, the types in each row representing duplicate characters, means for feeding a record sheet past said printing head opposite said type carriers and automatically in the direction of said columns and in time relation with the rate of input of said signals, a counter register adapted to receive input electric pulses corresponding to the input signals and to read out said pulses in sequence according to the order or degree of the characters representing said signals, said counter register having duplicate sequencing units corresponding to said columns respectively, each of said units having a series of delaying and memory storing devices corresponding to the different characters respectively, a column shift gate for receiving electric pulses from input signals and for channelling said pulses to the proper units of said counter register and to the proper delay devices in said units, and means responsive to the output pulse from any one of said delay devices for actuating the corresponding type carrier into printing position with respect to said record sheet.

7. In a printer adapted to receive intelligence in the form 10 of signals in succession corresponding to characters, the combination comprising a stationary'printer head therefor adapted to be located opposite a record sheet movable past said printer head in time sequence with the rate at which said signals are received, said printer head carrying a plurality of columns of type carriers arranged along the direction of advancement of the-record sheet, whereby said record sheet is movable from the head end-of the columns towards the footend and beyond, the types on the carriers of each column corresponding to different characters, Said type carriers being arranged in parallel rows from column to column, the types on the carriers of each row corresponding to the same character, and

means automatically operable in response to the input signals for selecting and actuating type carriers in succession from the head end of the columns to the foot end and across the rows from one column to the next, while the record sheet is advanced along the field of operation of said printing head, to print the characters from the selected type carriers on a transverse linear section of the record sheet while said sheet section is in the field of operation of said printing head and to cause thereby lines of input intelligence to be recorded in succession in the form of corresponding lines of printed characters on said record sheet.

8. In a printer, the combination comprising a printing head having a bank of printing plungers carrying at one end respective types representing characters corresponding to components of input intelligence and guided in the printing head for axial movement, and spring means urging said plungers axially into inoperative position, a printing frame opposite said printing head carrying a series of plunger latches, one for each plunger, means for operating said printing frame through successive cycles to move said plunger latches in unison towards and away from plunger operating position, and electromagnetic means for each of said plunger latches adapted when activated to move the corresponding plunger latch into position to engage the corresponding plunger and to move thereby said plunger into position contra to the action of its spring means and against a movable record sheet, to imprint on said record sheet the character from the type thereon during a predetermined phase -of the cycle of operation of said printing frame, said latches being free of said plungers during each of said phases when not actuated by said electromagnetic means, whereby the free plungers move idly during said phases.

9. A printer controlled by input signals of intelligence from the output of a high speed digital computer or from a magnetic, perforated or photographic tape, comprising a stationary printing head having a bank of movable type carriers arranged into two cross sets of parallel lines, the types in each line of one set representing duplicate characters corresponding to said signals of intelligence, the types in each line of the other set being arranged in columns and representing different characters, means for feeding a record sheet past the field of action of said printing head in the general direction of said columns, counter means for receiving signals corresponding to lines of intelligence and to characters appearing on said type carriers and in sequence but not necessarily in the sequence in which the characters appear on said columns of type carriers and for reading said signals out in the order in which they appear in said columns, and means responsive to the signals read out of said counter means 4for actuating the corresponding type carriers in the order in which they are read out from the counter register and in the column and columns corresponding to their position and positions in which they appear in the lines of input intelligence, said sheet feeding means advancing the sheet automatically in timed relation with the rate at which the successive signals are read out of said counter means, whereby rows of characters are printed across said sheet at the same time, and as said sheet leaves the/ field of action of said printing head, successive -lines of printed characters following each other appear across 11 said sheet corresponding to the lines of input intelligence A and to the sequence with which theV input signals are received.

References Cited in the'le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,2 Zenner Apr. 25, 1950 Braun July 31, 1951 Hyland Mar. 24, 1953 Wockenfuss July 13, 1954 Potter Oct. 26, 1954 Hartley Jan. 8, 1957 Roche Apt. 9, 1957 Rosen Sept. 10, 1957 Devol Oct. 29, 1957 

